Service Information for:

 

J. Lloyd Clayton

 

Radar Operator 3rd Class, RCNVR

 

Alive and well in 2024

 

Lloyd and his 3 sisters were born in Windsor, Ontario. His parents had immigrated to Canada before they were born. Lloyd.  The family later relocated to Vancouver, BC. In 1943, Lloyd joined the RCNVR at HMCS DISCOVERY in Vancouver.  He was drafted to HMCS CHIPPAWA for basic training, then to HMCS ST HYACINTE in Quebec for training as a Radar Operator.  From there he went to Halifax, NS.  From Halifax he was drafted to HMCS VALLEYFIELD under construction in Quebec City and was part of her commissioning crew. During VALLEYFIELD'S work-ups, Lloyd was landed to hospital due to illness.  While ashore in hospital, HMCS VALLEYFIELD was torpedoed and sunk.  After he recovered he was drafted to Scotland where he joined HMCS ALGONQUIN, a V-Class destroyer. During his time on ALGONQUIN, Lloyd took part in the D-Day landings and the Murmansk Run to Russia.  He was also on ALGONQUIN when she helped removed some of the crew of HMS NABOB after she had been torpedoed while on an operation to bomb the TIRPITZ in a Norwegian Fjord. During one of the trips to Murmansk, sailors from ALGONQUIN and SIOUX played hockey against some Russian sailors. "It was different as the Russians used a hard rubber ball, not a hockey puck".  After the war Lloyd returned to BC.  A few year later the Korean war broke out and Lloyd again volunteered - this time with the RCAF.  He was stationed in Vancouver in the supply depot and while there he met his wife to be. After his service in the RCAF was complete, Lloyd and his wife moved to California where they lived a long happy life together until her passing in 2017.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS VALLEYFIELD

HMCS ALGONQUIN

 

Lloyd Clayton, RCNVR on leave in Vancouver, BC, Jun 1945, age 19 years

 


 

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